Combination seat and ladder.



F. D. ALLISDN.

COMBINATION SEAT AND LADDER. APPLICATION man ocr. 22. 1914.

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w E a w 1 (o ff FLETCHER D. ALLISGN, OF PORTLAND, OREGON.

COMBNATION SEAT ANI) LADDER.

Specification of Letters-Patent.

Patented Nov. 28, i216.

Application filed October 22, 1914. Serial No. 867,960.

To all whom I? may concern.'

Be it known that I, FLETCHER D. ALLIsON, a citizen of the United States, residing in the citj7 of Portland, county of Multnomah, and State of Uregon, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Combina tion Seats and Ladders, of which the following is a full and clear specification.

My invention relates to a combination seat and ladder, and more particularly to certain improvements in my former invention in the same class, shown and described in Letters Patent No. 703,633, issued to me July l, 1.902.

Among the salient objects of this invention are, to provide a combination seat or settee and step ladder which is more conveniently adjusted for use as a step ladder than is the device of my patent abo-ve referred to, and which, as it is picked up as a seat, almost automatically opens into a ladder, strong and rigid and ready for immediate use without further adjustment; to provide in a device of the character referred to a removable top or seat board, thus making it possible to arrange the steps for the ladder in the upper part of the seat, immediately underneath said removable top, and also making possible the use of the lower part of the device as a box or receptacle for such things as it may be desired to place therein; to provide in such a device upper and lower parts, in the seat form, of such construction and arrangement that when opened out it-fashion to form a ladder, one part has a tirm and effective bearing upon the other part at the top or upper end, and wherein the end wall of the seat becomes a large and convenient top step for the ladder; to provide in such a device, simple means for increasing the extent of the supporting base of the ladder whereby to make it more rigid and safe and less likely to tip over; and, in general, to provide a cheap, practical and convenient seat and ladder for general household use.

In order that others may thoroughly understand my invention, l have shown in the accompanying sheet of drawings one practical embodiment thereof, which l will now describe.

Figure l is a perspective view of my 1n` vention as a. seat; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of my invention as a ladder; Fig. 3 is an end view of the device in the sea-t form,.

showing adjustable feet for use when set up as a. ladder and as shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a detachable seat board or top; Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of one of the jointed brace members between the legs of the device as a ladder.

.Referring now to the drawings more in detail, the invention as a seat or settee comprises a lower part l, an upper part 2, and a top or seat board 3. The lower part l is of rectangular, box-like form, having four short legs or feet, designated la, a bottom 1b, and may, if desired, be provided with a roll top or cover le, shown in Fig. 2, thus forming the lower part into a box or recep tacle with bottom and top, and adapted for use as a place to store things which will not interfere with the use of the device as a ladder. rlhe ends of the side members of the lower part l are extended slightly, as indicated at ld and are rounded as indicated, for the purpose of giving finish to the device and also for a purpose hereinafter referred to. rlfhe general design of the side members and the feet or legs can be changed and made as elaborate or as simple as de* sired.

The upper part 2 of the device comprises two side members 2a 22L provided therebetween with angularly disposed cross members 2lb-2h, constituting the steps for the ladder. c@laid side members are also extended at their ends slightly beyond the ends of the lower part of the device and on their under edges are formed as at 2C-2, to iit upon the upper ends ld-ld of the lower part of the device when opened out as a ladder.l as indicated at 2, Fig. 2. rlihe opposite, or lower, ends are formed in the same manner for purposes of uniformity. T he upper side members 2-2a, are hingedly connected with the legs la of the device, as indicated at 2d, in such a position that when the device is opened as a ladder', the under cut portions 2c will bear upon the rounded ends ld-ld of the lower part, as at 2, Fig. 2.

The end board 1 of the seat, constitutes a large top step when the device is used as a ladder. Near their lower ends, the two main parts of the device, as a ladder, are

lconnected at opposite sides by two jointed braces 4-45 secured at their opposite ends to the two parts of the ladder, as indicated, and hinged together, as at 4a, with the end of one part of each thereof extended in overlapping relationship and having an interlocking engagement with the other part Vadapted to be turned out laterally to increase the base support and make the device more stable and less easily overturned. The top or seat board 3 is preferably undercut, as at 3, so as to lit over the opposite ends of the device,l between the side members a, and in a way to prevent its slidinU in any direction. It is also rounded at its ends, as indicated at 3b, to conform to the rounded ends of the side members, as shown.

1n order to convert the device from a seat or settee, as shown in Fig. 1, it is only necessary to litt the top or seat board 3 and take hold ot' one of the steps 2b and lift up part 2, whereupon the connected brace members 4 4. automatically straighten out because ofV the springs 5 5. The device is then ready to stand on end .tor use. It desired, the auxiliary feet 6 6 can be turned outwardly as indicated in Fig. 2, but are not alwaysk required.

I am aware thatslight changes can be made in the' embodiment of the invention here shown for illustrative purposes and that the general design can be changed, withoutdeparting from the spirit ot the invention, and I do not therefore, limit the invention, except asl may be limited by the hereto appended claims.

1. A combination seat and ladder, Comi prising in combination, a lower part of boX- like form adapted to set upon the door, an upper part of boxlike form having side members resting edgewise upon the side members of the lower part and projecting beyond the ends thereof, and having between its sides a series ot step members, a hinge connection between said parts, whereby they` can be opened and set up Asfashion, as a ladder, with the side members of the upper part bearing upon the upper ends of the side member of the lower part, said members having a common end board adapted to form a top step, substantially as described.

2. A combination seat and ladder comprising in combination a lower part of rectangular, box-like form having short feet,

an upper part, of rectangular frame-like form with a series of step members angularly disposed between the sides of said upper part, said upper part being hingedly connected to the lower part adjacent one end and adapted at a. point above the joint to rest upon said lower part when opened as a ladder, a removable top or seat board over said step members, and a jointed brace member connecting the upper and lower parts near their lower ends, when set up as a ladder, substantially as described.

3. A combination seat and ladder comprising a lower part of box-like form adapted to rest upon the floor, an upper part of box-like form resting upon said lower part and hingedly connected thereto adjacent one end, and having step members between its sides, a top or seat board removably mounted over said step members, jointed brace members connecting said upper and lower parts near their lower ends when set up as a ladder, and means for automatically moving said brace members into operating positions when said upper part is lifted, substantially as described.

'l. combination seat and ladder ot the character referred to, comprising an upper part o frame-like form with a series of step members arranged crosswise therein, a top or seat board detachably mounted thereupon over said step members, a lower part of box-like lorm having. feet and adapted to receive articles therein, said upper and lower parts being hingedlj7 connected to gether adjacent one end, and adjustably counected together near their opposite ends whereby to be opened out A-iashion, and auxiliary feet members adapted to be adjusted to laterally projecting positions, for the purpose indicated.

5. A combination seat and ladder oi the character referred to, comprising a lower part of box-like form having top and botl tom and feet portions, an upper part of rectangular frame-like form with cross step members arranged between its sides, a top or seat board detaehably mounted upon said upper part over said step members, said upper and lower parts being hingedly connected adjacent one end and adjustably connected by jointed brace members near their opposite ends, and springs for automatically moving said braee members into operating positions as said upper part is lilted from said lower part, substantially as described. A

Signed at Portland, Oregon, this 17 th day of October, 1914.

FLETCHER D. ALLISON.

In presence of R. B. FRENCH, C. L. SnAQUnsT.

Copies efV this patent maf1 be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, I). C. 

